Calculating goniometer



Sept. 27, 1932. P. DAL- ION 1,879,116

CALCULATING GONIOMETER Filed May 2. 1929 C5 Sheets-Sheet l PHILIP Z7 L'TN. Y

lf JM? f4! y Hfs-ATT Riv/5V Sept. 27, 1932.

P. DALTON GALCULATING GONIOMETER Filed May Y2, 1929 3 Shee`ts-Sheet 2 Sept. 27, 1932.l P, DALTON 1,879,116

Y I CLCULATING GONIOMETER Filed May 2. 1929 3 SheeLs-Sheekl 5 Patented Sept. 27, 1932` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHILIP Daimon, or sCHnNncTAnY, NEW Yom: Y

i CALVCULA-TING GONIOMETER l Application nica MayY 2, i929. serial No."359,815. v My invention relates to instrumentswfor I know of no previous device of this nature solving geometric and goniometric problems for solving geometric problems in three diand more particularly to instruments for mensions or for automatically calculating solving three dimensional topographometric all four or even three of the geometric elel? problems. Y ments of ring data. Moreover, some of the 55;

Most artillery tiring is done from a defknown devices for solving problems in plane iladed Vbattery position `from which the tar-f geometry have serious mechanical limitations get is not directly observable, and because in that mutual interference of their parts of this, the sighting device on the gun must prohibits their functioning in certain posi- 15S be trained on an aiming point that is ob* tions and also prohibits the rapidadjustment 60.;

servable from the battery position. This of` their parts from certain positions to cer- Inethod of artillery firing is known as intain other positions.

direct laying. It is, therefore, a still further obj ect of my In Vthe carrying outrof artillery firing by invention toprovide a calculating mechanism l??? the method of indirect laying, the four elewhich isuniversally -operable in all positions ments of liring data, deflection, deflection dif for vSolving problems in plane geometry and. fel-ence, angle 0f site (elevation) and range, also for solving three dimensional geometric must be calculated from observations made prpblellswthn preestablished limits oit the with a gonionieter and a range finder at an thlrd dlmenslon. i 2li' observation post remote from the battery In Carrying-my IIVVGHOII Ill/0 effect in 70 position. At present, these dataareusually 011e form thereof, I provide kthree arm memcalculated mentally, Y .bers connected together by three universal In the preparation and conduct of lire ]O11its,two of Which-are s lidably mountedon when the observation post is at a considerable JUW? 0f the arms respectively, t0 permit the fili distance from the battery position, as for adgustment of the centers of rotations of 75 example in the case of unilateral observa- 'DWGy Of `he 1 1I1Ve1Sal-j0I1ts t0 desired position7 01 even in the simpler Case 0f axial tions of azimuth, distance, and elevation observa-tion, mental calculations made unwith respect to the cent-ei1 ofrrotations of the der the stresses of an artillery command are thlrd universal joint. l `-f often erroneous due'for example to such er- For e better and more complete under- Se rors as subtraction when addition was instanding of the invention, reference'should tended, Accordingly, an Objgct 0f 11157 n- IlOW be milde O lille' fOllOWIlg SpeCllCatlOIl vention is the provision of an infallible calandv t0 the aCCOInpaIlying drawings in which, cnlating instrument with which thefour ele- Fig. l is a perspective view of a calculating ments of ring data may be automatically instrument embodying-the invention; Figs. 2, obtained while making the necessary gonio- 3 and 4 are diagrammatic plan views illusf metric observations. trating a typical artillery problem and the A more specific object of my invention is manner in which the instrument is operated the provision of an instrument for calculatto calculate the four elements of firing data; 4.03 ing the above-mentioned elements otiiring Figs. 5, 6 and7 are respectivelyside, rear, data, in which a sighting vdevice is incorpoand plan views of the telescope cradle, cradleV rated in a calculating mechanism and in support, andnmain supporting spindle; Fig; which the elements of tiring data are auto- 8 is a. diagrammatic side view illustrating the -l matically calculated by the instrument While function of the telescope cradle; Figs. 9, 10, fff the observations are being madevvvith the and 1l are respectively, side, plan and rear 95 sighting device. views of thev `protractor mechanisml and its I am aware that there are known devicesv Supporting arm; and Fig. 12 is al detailed for solving problems in plane geometry and' plan view of the graduated protractor azi` for calculating one or two elements of the muth ring and the protractor index plate 50' artillery firing datamentioned above. But with its deflection difference chart.

- frame 13 Referring now to the drawings, the instrument proper is supported by a tripod 1, the head 2 of which is a socket having the shape of an inverted cup. The inner wall of the socket 2 is threaded to receive the wing nut 3 which, when screwed into the socket 2 serves to clamp the head of .the tripod to the ball 4 at the lower end of the main supporting spinle 5. A spherical leveling bubble 6, suitably disposed upon the instrument assists in adjusting the main supporting spindle in a vertical position prior to clamping the ball 4 of the spindle in the socket 2. f

rl`he remainder of the instrument may be considered as composed of two? parts; the line of sighting mechanism, and the protractor mechanism. Y' Y The line of sighting mechanism is supported upon the main supporting spindle 5 by the conical bearing surfaces 7, la located between the spindle 5 and the cradle support 8.

vThe protractormechanism is supported by a supporting arm 9 which in turn is supported by the spindle 5 by means of the Hat bearing surface between the top of spindle 5 and the bottom of the supporting arm. As is clearly shown in Fig. 9 the spindle 5 is not solid, but is hollowed to receive the conical spindle 10, with which protractor. supporting arm 9 is provided, to permit of .rotation of the latter in a horizontal plane about the vertical axis of spindle 5. Thus itr will be clear, that the protractor mechanism and theline of sighting mechanism which is supported by the cradle support 8 are independently .rotatable in azimuth about the axis of main supporting spindle 5.

Once rotated to any desired position of azimuth, the protractor supporting arm 9 may be clamped and retained in that po-sition by the hand nut 11 on the threaded stud 12, which as will be observed in Figs. 5, 6 and 11 is the lower extremity of conical spindle 10.

The line of sighting mechanism consists of a supporting framework'13 for supporting a telescope 14. Although. the framework- 13 is shown as being of rectangular form,per sons'skilled in the art will understand that. various other forms of supports, such as a U.shaped lor a quadrant shaped support might also be employed. Theline of sighting mechanism is provided with al slide 15. It is preferable that the slide 15 and telescope '14 should be integral with the supporting The' supporting frame as shown.

13 is attached to a telescopecradle. 16 by means of the rib and flange construction 17'.

As is most vclearly shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the cradle support 8 is provided with three V bearing blocks 18, 18a, 18?) into which are fitted the two concentric circular arc-shapedV V bearing edges 23, 23a with which telescopecradle 16 is provided', to permitof a rotary movement of the telescopeV 14 andl line'of sighting slide 15 about a horizontal axis dis-4 placed upwardly from the V bearings themselves. The lower two bearing blocks 18a, 18?) are rigidly attached to the cradle support 8, and the upper bearing block 18 is slidable vertically in the vertically disposed guideway 24. The bearing system is kept tight by a leaf vspring 25, which as most clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7 acts at an angle of 450 with the vertical to hold the bearing block 18 down upon V bearing edge 23 and tightly against the body of cradle support 8. The telescope cradle 16 and the telescope 14 supported thereby are rotatable in these bearings about the horizontal axis by means of the elevation worm 26, spindle 27 housed in cradle support 8,'worm wheelsegment 28 on cradle 16, and the manually operable .elevation knob 29. Cradle support 8, and consequently cradle 16, telescope 14, and slide 15 are rotatable in azimuth about the vertical axis of main supporting spindle -5 by worm wheel 30 on spindle 5, azimuth worm 31, spindle 32 housed in cradle support 8, and manually operated azimuth knob 33.

By adjusting the two lower bearing blocks 18a, 1870 the horizontal axis of rotation of telescope cradle 16 can be made to intersect the vertical axis of rotation of the cradle support 8, at a point within the opening of framework 13 as illustrated in Fig. 8. It will thus be clear at this pointthat the bearings between spindle 5 and cradle 'support 8, and beween cradle support 8 and cradle 16 form a universal joint having a center of rotations remote ,from the bearings themselves, and that as a consequence of being supported in cradle 16, telescope 14 and line of sighting slide 15 are' universally movable about this center of rotations and are non-radial with respect thereto. This is an important feature of my invention and should be borne in mind for a proper appreciation of the description which follows.

A slider 19 is arranged to run on the inwardly disposed V-shaped bearing surfaces with which line of sighting slide 15 is provided (see Fig. 11). Slider 19 is provided with an index arrow 20. arranged to register with the scale on slide 15. rlhe slider 19 may be clamped tightly in any desired position on slide 1 5 by means of clamping dog 21 and clamping lever 22.

Y A.; downwardlv projecting arm 34 on slider 19 is provided asoits lower extremity with av socket into which is litted the ball member of a ball and socket universal joint The arm 34 is so positioned on slider'19 that the center of rotations ofball and' socket joint 35 can be adjusted to coincide with the lixed center of rotations of the line of sighting mechanism, when the index arrow 20 coincides with the zero graduation ofA the scale on line of sighting slide 15.V The Vfbearingedges of slide 15 and the optical axis of telescope 14 are'made parallel with each other.

tance from the zero of slide of rotations of the telescopewith the dist The ability to superpose the centervof rotations of universal joint upon the center of rotations of the telescope and slider 15, or at least to move these two centers into very close proximity with each other, is also an important feature of my invention. TWhen the slider 19 is displaced along slide l5, the

center oi' universal join;J ou is displaced JromA the center of rotations of the sighting inechanism kin a direction parallel with the optical axis of telescope 14 a distance indica-ted by the position of the index arrow 2O with respect to the graduated scale. By the aid ol a range i'inder, or by estimation ot distances, the relative position in azimuth, distance, and elevation of-any point observable with the telescope with respect to the center ci: rotations of the telescope, can be represented to small scale by the position oi the center orp .universal joint 35. That is to say, that ii the distance between the Center or" rotations ofthe telescope anda distant point is known, the tele-V scope may be sighted on the dis le point and the slider 19 lisplaced along slide 15 a disorresponding to sca-le to the distance betwe rotations of the telescope and the distant point. The center of universal joint will likewise be displaced from the centr rctations of the telescope an equal distance. rllhus its center will lie on the line joinin the center point, and its position with respect to the center of rotations of the telescope on that line will correspond to scale in distance and eleva.- tion with the position oi the distant point with respect thereto. Therefore, it vi n be clear, that it the distant point ,isclose to the center of'rotations of the telescope, it is important that the centers of rotations oi the telescope and the universal joint 35 should be superimposable or movable into very close' proximity with each other. All this should be borne in mind for a pro ier understandinfy A I ED of that which is to follow.

All this small scale reproduction o' distant positions by universal joint 35 takes place within the contines oi the open framework 13 of the line oit sighting mechanism and it is i within this free space that' tie protractor mechanism is mounted and Junctions tor measuring the angular and distance relations between ldistant points as reproduced by the ball and soeket'35.

The construction of the protractor mechanism will best be understood by referring to Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12.

i A micrometer housing 3G which also serves asa bedplate for the-protractor is provided with V ,bearing blocks 37 to p rmit of its displacement along the protractor supporting arm 9 and inaybe secured in any desired position on the supportingarin by means ofV clamping dog 38 and lever 39. An index plate 40 is Jfreely rotatable on the bedplate .1. 1 e n trie center oi about the laxis of a 'short vertical spindle 41. A graduated azimuth circle or ring 42 is held in place by a retaining` ring 43, but may be rotated in the housing 3 6 about the axis of spindle 41 by the attached worinl wheel 44,l

micrometer worm 45, spindle 46, and manually operable knobs 47 and 48.

Two vertical posts 49 are fixed to the freely rotatable index plate 40. A U kbracket 50 is provided with two vertical holes into which the posts 49 are fitted. The bracket may be moved upwardly or downwardly upon these posts as desired, and is arrangedto be secured in adesired position thereon by means.

riage 56 by the elevation micrometer knob` A graduated extensible member 58-is freely j slidable on the inwardly disposed V bearing surfaces in the arin 54 and its extremity carries the ball oi ball and socket joint v35 by which the protractor arm is connected with the slider 19 on line of sighting slide 15.

The Vvertical axis of spindle 41 and the` horizontal axis of trunnions'53 intersect'each other at a point between the laterals of the U of the U-shaped` bearing bracket 50. It will therefore be clear thatthe bedplate and index plate of the protractor, relatively movable about a vertical axis, and the horizontal trunnions 53 and U` bearing bracket() form a universal joint having a center of'rotations remote from the bearings comprising the joint, and that the protractor arm 54 is universally movable about this center. Hereinafter in this specification the center of rotasv tions of this universal oint will be referred to as the center of the protractor mechanism.

It should also be noted here that theprotractor arm 54 which Connects the protractor mechanism just described,l with universal; joint 35 is non-radial with respect to the cen-- tersoi' rotations of both of these universal joints. This tact coupled with the fact that the protractor mechanism universal joint has remote bearings, permits their centers of Vrotations to be superimposed upon each-other. As shown inl Fig. l0,V one of the two relatively movable members 54, 58 of the protractor arm is provided with a scale and the other with a cooperating index'arrow. Preferably,

this scale is so positioned that the two members will beat zero extension, i; e., the arrow will be opposite zero on the scale wrhengthecenter Yof rotations of universal joint coincides ,with the center of rotations of the protractor mechanism.

Thus by loosening clamping nut l1, lever 5 39, and knob 52 and by holding the protractor arm 54 at zero extension while the telescope 14 is sighted on a distant subject such for example as the directing piece Vof a bat-- tery the universal joint 35 and the center of rotations of the protractor mechanism (held coincident therewith) may be displaced from the center of rotation of the telescope to a position in distance and elevation corresponding to scale with the location in space ofithegun with respect to the center of rotation of thetelescope. The center of rotations ofthe protractor mechanism may then be fixedat this point by retightening the three clamps 11, 39 and 52 of the protractor supporting mechanism.

An arrow 59 on index plate 40 and the verticalaxisof spindle 4l are always in a. vertical plane (since a line and a point without a line determine a plane). Therefore, when protractor arm 54 and its extensible member'58 are rotatedinto' subsequent positions by rotation of the telescope, the angular displacement between the arrow 59 and azimuth circle 42 will be a true measure of the rotation in azimuth of protractor arm 54 about the center of rotations of the protractor universal joint.

Likewise, the angles of elevation of the subsequent positions of the center of the ball 5 and socket 35 with respect to the center of rotations of 4the protractor mechanism can be measured with theelevation micrometer knob '57, and the distances between thesetwo centers can be measured by the graduations onfthe extensible member 5S and the indices on the prctractor arm 54, because `the line between the centers of the two universal joints is alwaysparallel to the V -bearing surfaces ofthe member 58 and the arm 54.

The azimuth micrometer worm 45 is geared to the Vazimuth circle 42 to enable the zero mark on the latter to be rotatedfuntil it coincides with index arrow 59 on index plate 40. The worm spindle 46 is provided with two knobs, a small one 47 at one end; of the spindle and a large one 48 at the other end. The small knob 47 serves to rotate the azimuth circle rapidly. The large knob 48 is mounted loosely about spindle 43, but

i may, by means of clamping lever 62, be

clamped tightly on the spindle so as to turn with it. 'Micrometer knob 48 is provided with a graduated scale cooperating with an index arrow on the housing 36 and has a zero stop consisting of pin on the knob and pin 61 on the housing. The purpose of the stop is to enable rapid setting of the knob at zero before clamping, and to prevent turning of the knob more than one revolution which corresponds to one .graduation of the azimuth circle 42. Due to the Vzero stop, .the microineter knob48 can turn only a little less than one revolution, so the micrometer worm and the graduations of knob are accordingly calibrated for that fraction ofthe revolution.

Persons skilled in this art will understand that if a battery of guns is to fire a parallel sheaf of fire upon a target by sighting the sights of all the guns of the battery on .a common aiming point, a different deflection angle must be used for each gun. Referring to Fig. 4, the angle between the lines connecting gun G with target T and with aiming point A. P. is known as the angle of deflection. Itis the azimuth angle that must exist between the bore of each gun and the optical axis of its sighting device when the latter is sighted on the aiming point'to enable the gun tofire on the target.

If the same angle of' deflection were used by the gun G1 and the remaining guns in the battery, their lire would not be .parallel with the line of fire of gun G. Thus it is necessary to make a correction for eachfgun in the vbattery to insure parallel fire. As shown in Fig. 4 the correction for gun G1 :will be the parallax angle G, A. P., G1, and this angle is known as'the deflection dierence.

From the foregoing and by referring to Fig. 4 it will be clear that the deflection dif-y ference is a function involving the angle of deflection, the distance between the gun Gand the aiming point A. P., andthe distance between guns on a platoon front. This latter factor, i. e., the distance between guns on a platoon front may be assumed a constant value of twenty yards, and perpendicular .to the line of re. Y

A chart or graph of deflection dierences may be engraved or suitably inscribed upon the index plate 40 of the protractor as shown in Figs. 10 and 12. The particular graph shown in these two figures is a polar-coordinate graph of deflection differences plotted between angles of deflection and gun toA aiming point ranges. and is plotted for a parallel sheaf of fire. The radial lines on the chart represent angles of deflection;r the concentric circles represent gun to aiming point ranges, and the tangential circles represent deflection differences.

vIn use the chart may be read by l"finding the deflection difference curve nearest tothe intersection of that radial dellection line most nearly coincident with the zerograduation on the azimuth ring 42 and that concentric circle having the value nearest to the proper gun to aiming point range, as determined by the lrest of the calculating mechanisms which will be more fully explained vhereinafter). Y

With the above understanding of the elements comprising an embodiment of my .invention, the manner of their association with each other, and their functioning with respect to each other, the operation of the instrument in calculating the four elements of a typical artillery problem will readily be grasped and understood from the detailed description which follows.

The instrument is set up at an observation post preferably one from which the battery, the aiming point, and target are allobservable such for example as the point O. P. in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and is leveled'by the spherical leveling bubble 6, alter which the wing nut 3 is tightened to camp the ball 4 in socket 2. The center of rotations oi' the telescope thusbecomes the point P. 7

The cross hairs ofthe telescope are then adjusted upon the sight of the directing piece ofthe battery (in this case gun G) by manipulating the azimuth knob 33 Vand elevation knob 29. Slider 19 is then moved out on line of sighting slide 15 until its index arrow 20 coincides with the graduation on the scale corresponding to the distance from the observation post O. P. to the gun G as determined by a range finder. Slider 19 is then clamped in place by clamping lever 22. The

center of universal joint 35 will now be on the line joining O. P. with the gun G, and its position on that line with respect to O. P. will correspond to scale in distance and elevation with the position ofthe gun G with respect thereto. t

The three supporting clamps 11, '39, an

52 will now be loosened, and the protractor mechanism moved toward the universal joint 35 until lthe graduated extensible member 58 is at Zero extension and the center of rotations -oi the pro-tractor mechanism is coincident with the center of'universaljoint 35, and the center of the protractor mechanism is fixed in this position by retightening the clamps 11, 89, and 52. Thus, the Center of the protractor mechanism is on the line O. P.--G joining` the center of rotations of the telescope O. P. withthe gun G, and its .position on that line with respect to O. P.

corresponds to scale in distance and elevation with the position of gun G with respect thereto. This leaves the instrument in the position shown in Fig. 2. l

The vertical cross hair of the telescope is next adjusted on the aiming point A.. P. and slider 19 is moved out on line of sighting slide 15 until its indexarrow 2O coincidesI with the graduation on the scale corresponding with the range finder distance from the observation post G. P. to the aimingV point A. P., and is clamped in that position by clamping lever 22. The center of universal joint 35 is now on the line joining the center ot rotations of the telescope O. P. with aiming point A. P. and its position on this line with respect to O. P. corresponds toscale with the position of A. P. with respect thereto. The instrument will now be in the position shown in Fig. 3 with the positions of the centers of the protractor mechanism and the universal joint 35 corresponding to scale to the positions of gun G and aiming point A. P., respectively, with respect to O. P. The.` extension of the eXtensible member 58 with respect to protractor arm 54 will then be a true measure to scale of the gun to aiming point range, i. e. the distance between the gun G and aiming point A. P. The graduations of the scale on extensible member 58 are to the same scale as those on line of sighting slide 15, and therefore the distance from the gun G to the aimingpoint A. P. may be read to scale by the scale on extensible 4member 58, and the cooperating index arrow on protractor arm 54. This reading should ,be made at this point in the operationand noted down, since it is one of thev elements necessary lin obtaining the deilection difference by means of thev deflection difference chart at a later point in the operation. Y f j The graduated micrometer knob 48 is next loosened by releasing clamping lever 62, and i the azimuth ring 42 is then rotated by means of' knob 47 until its zero graduation is coincident with the index arrow 59.l Micrometer knob is then set at zero aild clamped in place by clamping lever 62. Y

These adjustments leave the instrument in the positiony shownin Fig. 3 with the zero graduation of azimuthring 42 in the vertical plane of line g-ap which is parallel with the line G-.AP because points g and ap are on Vlines O. P.-G and O. P.-A. P.y respectively and are distant from O. P. in proportion t0 the lengths of those lines as determined from the observationpost O. P. to the target T as determined by range finder. The inico Vby range finder and set by the scale on slide les strument will now bein the position shown in Fig. 4 with the center of universaljoint get T. Its position in distance and elevation on this line with respect to the center of rotations O. kP. of the telescope will correspondl to scale withy the, position of the target T with respect thereto. y The nearest graduation of azimut-bring 42 is adjusted until it coincides with index arrow 59 on index plate 40 by means Vof micrometer knob 48,and the angle of site (angle of elevation) bubble 55 is leveled by means of its micrometer knob 57.

The adjustments are now completed and the four elements ottiring data may be read from the instrument. In Fig. 4, the positions of the, center of protractor mechanism represented byl the point g, and r`the center of universal joint 35 represented bythe point to occupy positions in distance andl elevation with respect to O. P. corresponding to scale with-the positions of the' gun G and target- T with respect to O. P. and on the lines joining O. P. with G and T, respectively as before explained. Therefore, the triangle z-g-OP is similar to, andlies in the plane of triangle T-G-O. P., and accordingly the distance from the gun to the target will be represented to scale by the distancebetween the center ofthe protractor mechanism and the center of universal joint 35, and this distance may be measured by reading the extension of the extensible member 5`8with respect to protractor arm 54. This reading gives the gun to target` range;

Furthermore, the protractor` arm 54 and its extensible member 58 are parallel with' the -linej oiningthe gun with the-target, i. e., line Gr-T, and therefore, the angletliat arm 54 makes with the horizontal is equal tothe angle that the line Cir-T makes@ with1 the horizontal, and this angle, which i's'the-angle of site,.may be measured by* means of the bubble carriage 563 and' leveling bubble 55, and its cooperating scale on protractor arm 54.

Since theA triangles y-O; P. and 0. PL-g-p are similar'totriangle T--Gr'-V OP and OP-G-AP, respectively, it will be clear that the azimuthv angle" t-g-ap'- is equalto the' angle T`-GAP`theangle of deflection. Itshould alsoibe` clear that' when the telescope is,- rotated. from' the position shown in F ig: 3 to the position shown inF-i'g.

l 4, the protractoir4 arm- 54* is rotated about the center' of theV protractor mechanism` through the azimuth angle -g-ap. Protactor arm 54'` being attachedto freely rotatableindex plate 40, the. vertical axis of rotation' of'which passes through the centerofrotations offprotractor'. arm 54, the rotation ofthe latterin azimuth fromA the position shown inV Fig; 3 to" theposition'. shown in Fig. 4, will eif'ect rotation of the index plate 40. oft the protractor through the same azimuth anglinwith respect to azimuth ring-42.. Therefore, since the zero on azimuth ring 42'was set coincident with the index arrow 59jin theposition of' the instrument in Fig. 3, the graduation ofthe ring 42 coincidentY w'iththe arrow 59 in the position of the instrument in Fig. 4 willlbe a true measure of the angle T-G- A. P., the angle of. deflection.

The deflection-difference may. be read directlyy from. the deflection. difference chart as heretofore l explained in; this specification.

Without changingv the-- adjustments made iniFigsi 2'and 3,. the adjustment inV Fig. 4

newv target-adjusting the` slider 19V for.' the new distance and reading the data from the instrument as already explained.

In the event that either the battery, the

aiming point, or both battery and aiming' point are not visible from the observation post, the adjustments made in Figs. 2 and 3 may be made by observation of high bursts fired: at a stipulated range, elevation, and angle of deflection with the aiming point.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a calculating instrument that automatically calculates the .four elements of typical gun fire problems in three dimensional space while the necessary goniometric observations are being made with the telescope.. Ity willalso be seeny that Although in Aaccordance with the provi sions of the patent statutes Iliavezdescribed my invention as embodied in, p articular' elements associated with each other ina par-ticular manner, I would have it distinctly understoodVthat the apparatus and elements disclosedl and described are me-rely illustrative and that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications, alterations, and equivalent' mechanisms will readily suggest themselves to workers skilled in this art with- "i out' departing from theftrue spirit of this invention or from the scope of the annexed;

claims.

lVhat I claimas new and desire-tofsecure by Ietters Patentof the United States is:

l. Ay measuring device comprising'a sight-v ing device arranged for'rotati'on in a given plane about a given axis, a protractor mechanism, and means comprising elements includingy an extensible member and two universal joints for connecting said telescope with said protractor.

2. In combination in a measuring instrument, three arms, three universal joints for connecting said arms to form a closed structure, and means including slidable connections between two of said universal joints and two of said arms for permitting adjustment of the centers of two of said universal joints to desired positions of azimuth, distance, and elevation with respectv to the center of rotations of said third universal joint.

3. In acalculating goniometer, three. arms, three universal joints for connecting said armswith each other, one of saiduniversal CTI joints being movably mounted on one of said arms, two of said universal joints having bearings remote from their center of rotations, and at least one of said arms being extensible.

t joint non-radially with respect to said center,

and means providing for the adjustment of said center and a point tixed with respect to one of said members to desired positions of azimuth, distance, and elevation with respect to a point in space.

5. In Va calculating goniometer, an arm, bearings mounting said arm for universal movement about a fixed center of rotations, a second arm, bearings mounting said second arm for universal movement about an adjustable center of rotations; and a. universal joint slidably mounted upon one of said arms for connecting said arms with each other, said bearings being remote from their centers of rotations, and at least one of said arms being extensible.

6. In a calculating instrument, the combination which comprises three arms and three universal joints for connecting said arms with each other respectively, one of said arms being universally movable about a fixed center of rotations, and one of said universal joints being provided with bearings remote from said center.

.7. In a calculating goniometer three arms, at least three universal oints. connecting said arms with each other to form a closed figure, two of universal joints having bearings remote from their centers of rotations, means comprising slidable connections for two of said joints on three of said arms providing for the adjustment of the centers of rotations of two of said universal joints to desired positions of azimuth Vand distance with respect to the center of rotations of a. third universal joint, and means for determining the distance between the centers of said two universal oints.

8. An instrument of the Acharacter described comprising in combination, a sighting device having' a slider, means for mounting said telescope for universal movement, a protractor comprising a fixed member and a movable member, and an extensible arm havingV ter of rotations vfor mounting said sighting device for universal movement about said center. support-ing means for said protractor and said universal joint, and an extensible arm having two relatively movable members, one

of said membersbeing connected to said)v sighting device, and the other being connected to one of the parts of said protractor.

10. In combination in a measuring .instrument, a sighting device, means mounting said si gliting device for universal movement about a fixed point, said means including a bearing remote from its center of rotations, anniversal joint slid'ably mounted on said sighting device, a protractor mechanism and an extensible arm having two members respectively connecte/dto said universal joint and said' protractor mechanism, whereby said protractor is operable in accordance with the rotation in azimuth ot said extensible member to measure the deliectionangle between Vthe lines joining a point with two other points. Y f

1l. 'A calculating goniometer comprising in combination, a sighting device mounted for universal movement about a center Vof rotations, a supporting arm mounted for rotation about a vert-ical axis, a protractor comprising a relatively fixed and a relatively movable member, and an extensible member having one extremity connected to said sighting device and the opposite extremity connected to said supporting arm through a universal connection, said universal connection comprising said relatively fixed and said relatively movable members.

12. An instrument of the character described comprising element-s including a telescope mounted for universal rotation about a fixed'point, an extensible member connected with said-telescope and operable thereby for indicating the distance between two points iixed in space and the angle of elevation between the line connecting said points, and the horizontal plane, and a protractor operable by said member to indicate the angle of deflection between said line, and asecond line connecting one of said points with a third point. v

13. In a calculating goniometer three arms,

at least threeuniversal joints connecting said arms with each other to iorm a closed ligure, two of said universal joints having bearings remote from their centers of rotations, means comprising slidableconnections for two of said joints on three of said arms providing for the adjustment of the centers of rotations of two of said universal joints to desired positions of azimuth and distance with respect to the center of rotations of said third universal joint, means for determining the distance between the centers of said two universal joints, and'means comprising a protractor.`

mechanism included in oneof said two universal joints for measurin'gthe azimuth angles through which the arm connecting said twouniversal joints vis rotated'.

14. In an instrument of the characterdeus j scribed, an arm mounted for universal movement about a-fix'ed centerv of rotations and means for orienting said arm into a desired position of azimuth and elevation, a second arm mounted for universal movement about an adjustable center of rotations, one atleast of said arms being nonradial with respect to its center of rotation, bearings remote from their centers of rotations for supporting said arms, means providing for the adj ust-mentof the center ofrotaitions of said second arm to a desired point of azimuth, elevation, and distance relative to said'first mentioned center of rotations, a universal joint slidably connecting both arms, means lfor measuring the distances of the center of said universal joint from said centers of rotations of said arms, means for measuring the elevation of the center of said universal joint with respect to one of said centers, and a deiiection diii'erence chart incorporated in tliebearing system of said second arm.

15. In acalculating gcniometer, an arm member, a universal joint having a bearing system remote fromitscenter of rotations for mounting said arm for universal movement about said center, a'second arm connected to said'universal joint, a second universal joint slidably mounted on one of said arms, a third universal joint slidably mounted on the other of said arms and provided with bearings remote fromitscenter of rotations, a third arm comprising two relatively movable members respectively connected to said second and third universal joints, and means providing for the adjustment ofthe centers of rotations of said second andthird universal joints to desired positions of azimuth, distance, and elevation with respect to said first center, two

'L at least of said arms being non-radial with respect to all of said centers.

16.v In a calculating device of the character described, three arms, three universal connections for connecting said arms with each other, two of saidv universal joints being slidably mounted upon two of said arms respectively, the third arm comprising two relatively movable members, means providing for the adjustment of the centers of rot-ations of two of said universaljoints to positions of F- auniversal joint having bearing surfaces remote from its center of rotations mounting said arm for universal movement about said centena second arm member comprising two relatively movable members, a second univer- 'A sal jointslidably mountedon said first arm for slidably connecting onevof said relatively movabler members with said first arm, a third arm connected to said; first Universal joint,

and a third universal oint slidably mounted upon said third arm for slidably connecting the other of said two relatively movable members with said third a-rmysaid second arm being non-radial with respect to the centers of rotations of said second and third universal joints, and said third universal joint having bearings remote from their center of rotations.

18. A telescope mounted for universal movement about a center of rotations, a supporting member arranged for rotation about a vertical axis intersecting said center, an extensible member provided withv auniversal joint at one extremity, said'universal joint being slidably attached tol said supportingI member to permit displacement of said extremity an amount from. said center corresponding with the length of one side of' a triangle when said telescope is sighted along said side, means for connecting the opposite extremity of said extensible member with said telescope comprising a universal joint slidably mounted upon said telescope to permit the displacement of said opposite extremity an amount from said center corresponding to the length of a second side of said triangle when said telescope is sighted along said second side, whereby the distance between said extremities corresponds with the length of the third side of said triangle.

19. In a calculating device, a telescope mounted for universal movement about a fixed center of rotations and adapted to be successively sighted alongthe lines joining an observation point with a gun, anaiming point, and a target respectively, an extensible member having one extremity mounted for universal movement about a secondy fixed point, the opposite extremity being slidably and universally connected with said telescope, a protractor operable by movement of said telescope and said member for indicating the angle of deflection of the lines joining the gun with the aiming point and with the target, respectively, a graduated scale on said extensible member for indicating the distance between said gun and said target, means mounted upon said member for indicating the angle of site of the line joining the gun and the target, and a chart upon said protractorv for indicating the deflection difference.

20. A calculating device comprising a sighting member mounted for universal movement about a fixed center of rotations, a supporting arm mounted for rotation about a vertical axis passing through said center, an extensible arm comprising two relatively movable members, a universal joint for connecting one of said members with said sighting member, a second universal joint for connecting the other of said members with saidv supporting arm, said sighting member and said extensible arm being provided with scales and said universal joints being movably mounted upon said sighting device and said supporting arm respectively whereby the displacements of the centers of said universalV Joints from said center of rotations and their included angle may be made to simulate the two known sides and the included angle of a triangle, and whereby the displacement of the elements of said extensible arm with respect to each other simulates thethird side of said triangle.

21. A measuring device comprising a sighting device arranged for rotation in a given plane about a given axis, a protractor mechanism, said protractor having a chart provided with a plurality of radial lines representing angles of deflection, a plurality of concentric circles representing gun to aiming point ranges, and a'plurality of tangential circles representing deflection differences, and4 means comprising elements including an extensible member and two universal joints for connecting said telescope with said protractor.

22. An instrument of the character described comprising in combination, a sighting device having a slider, means for mounting said telescope for universal movement, a protractor comprising a fixed member and a. movable member, a chart provided with a plurality of radial lines representing values of angle between a line and a second line intersecting said first line at a given point, a plurality of concentric circles representing distances on said second line from said given point, a plurality of tangential circles representing values of parallax angles between said second line and a third line forming a point on said second line with a point remote from said given point, a support, for said fixed member, an index on said support cooperating with said radial lines, and an eX- tensible arm having one of its extremities mounted for universal movement with respect to said fixed member and having the other of its extremities connected to lsaid slider.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of April, 1929.

PHILIP DALTON. 

